Getting There

Function

Several calibrations are necessary to successfully implement multiplexed multiple-pinhole methods in small-animal SPECT. The MMP SPECT panel may be used to analyze four different small-animal SPECT calibrations, including linearity, collimator depth, pinhole offset, and geometrical. The panel is split into eight sections -- Templates, Control, Preview, Output, and a section for each of the four calibrations. There are also several helpful tools in the Menus.

To run the tool, hit the "Open" button and select all of the relevant data (should be titled Service^SPECT_0*_CalibName and will consist of 64 Intrinsic Reoslution data sets, 4 Collimated Beam data sets, and 1 4-point data set) from the Data Browser. The MMP Tool will read in the calibration data, recognizing which data corresponds to which calibration. The panels for the individual calibrations (see below) display the completeness of the data. Once all necessary data is present, the "Run" buttons are used in succession from the top calibration (Aluminum Grid) to the bottom calibration (Four-Point). Results for each calibration are presented in their respective panels; a description of possible errors is listed in Calibration Failures.

After successfully completing the analysis, the result CalibrationData_YYYYMMDD.txt file can be copied into C:\Nucline\Calibrations\CalibrationData.txt to update the calibration information used by the NanoSPECT.

The Templates section controls the input and output files used/generated by the calibration analysis.

Input Template: A previously-generated CalibrationData.txt file may be used as an input template for the data. This feature is particularly useful if partial calibrations (i.e., only a 4-point measurement) have been performed.

Empty Template: As a default, an empty template, designed for use with the Nucline software, is used to generate the CalibrationData.txt file.

Output File: Any name may be specified for the Output file of the calibration analysis. The default name is CalibrationData_YYYYMMDD.txt.

Use Input File: This feature is not yet implemented in the VivoQuant. Please check back soon!

Four different MMP calibrations may be analyzed with this tool. For each calibration, Preview, Details, and Run buttons are provided. Preview allows the user to view the images for that particular calibration in the Preview panel. Details provides information about each calibration. Run performs the analysis of that measurement. Additionally, the orbits from the 4-point calibration may be displayed using the Orbits button.

Aluminum Grid Measurement / Linearity Check

Data for the Aluminum Grid Measurement is collected with a device containing 16 carefully-positioned holes. The collimated beam source holder (see NanoSPECT/CT documentation) is placed in each hole. The resulting 16 point images are used to analyze the linearity of the detector.

Collimator Depth

The collimator depth phantom is used to collect data for the collimator depth calibration. This calibration was once used to determine the distance from the detector plane to the pinhole plane, however, it is now out-of-date and is turned off by default. It may be turned back on using the "Enable ColDepth" option found in the MMP Menus.

Pinhole Offset (Collimated Beam)

The Pinhole Offset calibration evaluates the deviation between the center of the pinhole plane and the center of the detector plane.

Geometrical Calibration (4-point)

The 4-point calibration provides a wealth of geometrical information for the NanoSPECT/CT. This geometrical information is then used by special algorithms to determine the forward model necessary for successful SPECT reconstruction.

In each calibration panel, there are also fields relaying information about the completeness of the data for each head and some quality measure (either Resolution, Linearity, or Quality). The table below includes information about the limits for passing a particular calibration and how to interpret error messages. In each case, "x" designates a head number. For example, in the 4-point calibration, a R1 (as shown in the screen shot) would indicate that the Radius of Rotation for Head 1 was outside the acceptable limits.

The Preview panel displays calibration data for a particular calibration (selected using that calibration's Preview button). This panel is useful for checking head order in the 4-point calibration or determining a missing point in the Linearity Check calibration. The slider bar at the bottom allows movement between heads.

Aluminum Grid Preview

Collimated Beam Preview

Four-Point Preview

The Output panel provides a log of the steps being performed. For example, the Output section will inform the user that files have been found, provide the numerical results from the analysis, and help identify potential errors.